Here's why I'm opposed to any law requiring pre and post adoption counseling for expectant parents.
I do not think it is the job of any government at ANY level to tell an expectant parent that they should have counseling. I don't think the government at any level will provide good, unbiased counseling.
Having said that, I think counseling for an expectant parent is needed. And should an expectant parent decide to relinquish his/her child, they should receive counseling after the placement.
I don't think the change that's needed is going to be brought about by mandating counseling. I think it can be brought about by changing the way adoption agencies operate. Obviously, things are very biased in most organizations. I hope this can be brought to their attention and changed without having any level of government stepping in to make the needed changes. I doubt it, but I think that is an approach that needs to be completely exhausted before government steps in taking more control of the adoption process.
I hope ya'll realize that if they should pass such a law that would mandate counseling, they'll most more than likely pick which counselors can be gone to...which I'll put money on will be social workers. In my opinion, not all of them are qualified to work with expectant parents. They need to be brought up to speed on that if counseling is made law.
It's not the law that needs to be fixed. It's not government that needs to step in. It's those of us who have gone through adoptions (on all sides of the triad) who need to work with the adoption agencies and adoption attorneys and healthcare providers and social workers and tell our stories and show them why those changes must be made. Then participate in making those changes.
It's not the government's job. It's ours.
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